Comments

Dr. Leonard: In addition to a mirrorless design to save weight and complexity, how about doing away with the focal plane shutter and use lenses with leaf shutters. Ups x sync also. No mirror, no pentaprism, no shutter - how expensive could it be?

Perhaps the mirror itself is not so expensive but the damping mechanism surely is more involved than having no mirror. The pentaprism adds weight to a camera body already pretty heavy, over 4 pounds without lens. Don't know about the cost of a focal plane shutter but surely there would be less vibration compared to a leaf shutter in the lens. Overall, a lighter, simpler, less vibration camera body.The cost of the sensor would be less for SONY because they own it. Pentax has to buy it so this adds to the price.

Dr. Leonard: In addition to a mirrorless design to save weight and complexity, how about doing away with the focal plane shutter and use lenses with leaf shutters. Ups x sync also. No mirror, no pentaprism, no shutter - how expensive could it be?

If the SONY would sell well by undercutting the price of the Pentax, perhaps lens makers would come calling. Just a hope.

Dr. Leonard: In addition to a mirrorless design to save weight and complexity, how about doing away with the focal plane shutter and use lenses with leaf shutters. Ups x sync also. No mirror, no pentaprism, no shutter - how expensive could it be?

I know. I'm talking about a new camera, not the Pentax reworked. SONY won't have to buy the sensor and by eliminating mirror, pentaprism and shutter, you would have a much simpler camera and presumably cheaper. The money saved would go to super lenses.

Dr. Leonard: In addition to a mirrorless design to save weight and complexity, how about doing away with the focal plane shutter and use lenses with leaf shutters. Ups x sync also. No mirror, no pentaprism, no shutter - how expensive could it be?

The Leica lenses are sharp, no? And there are others.I'm talking about SONY doing this, not Pentax.

In addition to a mirrorless design to save weight and complexity, how about doing away with the focal plane shutter and use lenses with leaf shutters. Ups x sync also. No mirror, no pentaprism, no shutter - how expensive could it be?

Camera is heavy, expensive and has a large mirror (do I hear a slap?). Note to SONY - the 645Z already uses your sensor. How about developing a mirrorless model to save weight, complexity (mirror damping), and with a lower price (less complex)? Say around 4K to tempt Nikon 800 would be buyers or even 5K, cheaper than the top models from Nikon or Canon.